DOL Issues Final Rule On Retail or Service Establishment Commissioned Sales Exemption
By: Megan Erickson Moritz | 05.28.2020
The United States Department of Labor issued a final rule to simplify application of the commissioned sales exemption from the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). Under that exemption, an employee may be treated as exempt from the FLSA overtime requirement if: (1) the employee works in a “retail or service” establishment, (2) earns a Read…
Returning Employees to the Workplace? We’ve Got You Covered.
By: BrownWinick |
Eight members of our Employment Practice Group have prepared a “Return to Work Playbook” to assist employers in returning employees to the workplace during this unusual and unprecedented time. The people contributing to this effort include Beth Coonan, Megan Moritz, Danielle Smid, Caitlin Klingenberg, Tess Pocock, and Ryan Shellady. The “Return to Work Playbook” Read…
Training During Downtime – Ways to Connect, Engage, and Develop Your Workforce
By: BrownWinick | 05.06.2020
With decreased business, employers have some supervisors and employees with extra time. This would be an excellent time to catch supervisors and employees up on important workplace training. While training sessions are usually conducted in person, all meetings – personal and professional – are now being handled virtually. One of the key issues with Read…
COVID-19 As We Enter May: What Should Employers Be Thinking About?
By: Megan Erickson Moritz | 05.04.2020
While legal considerations will vary by business priorities, practicalities, and industry, we have seen several recurring topics on employers’ minds as we begin a new month in this coronavirus pandemic. Below, I’ve outlined a quick list of topics to make sure your company is on top of: Leave requirements under Families First Coronavirus Response Read…
E-Verify COVID-19 Accommodation: New Temporary Rule for I-9 Compliance
By: BrownWinick | 05.02.2020
On May 1, 2020, the federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that expiring list B documents used for the purpose of validating an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States may be treated as if the employee provided a valid receipt for the document for I-9 purposes. DHS reasoned that, “Because many Read…
COVID-19 Update: Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants
By: BrownWinick | 04.23.2020
Summary The highly anticipated Presidential Proclamation which suspends entry of certain immigrants during the economic recovery period of COVID-19 has been signed and will be effective at 11:59 pm today, April 23, 2020. In short, the suspension affects a limited group of foreign nationals – those who are outside the United States and without Read…
COVID-19 – Additional Employer Funding Sources
By: Cynthia Boyle Lande | 04.09.2020
Many businesses are asking questions about new SBA loans available under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Oftentimes businesses are not aware of other new resources available in the form of refundable advance tax credits — reimbursing the cost of employee wages paid in connection with COVID-19. In many cases, the credits available can exceed Read…
H-1B Lottery Concluded – Petitions May Be Filed Beginning April 1
By: BrownWinick | 04.03.2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced earlier this week that the H-1B electronic registration process and the FY2021 lottery has concluded. Employers are now eligible to file a FY2021 H-1B cap-subject petition — provided they electronically registered the beneficiary in the H-1B registration process, and the registration was selected in the lottery. The Read…
DOL Issues Much Anticipated Guidance for FFCRA Paid Leave Requirements
By: Megan Erickson Moritz | 04.01.2020
Today, the US Department of Labor announced its much anticipated temporary rule, providing regulations to implement the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). These temporary paid leave laws are intended to help workers forced to grapple with challenges Read…
What Would a Shelter-in-Place Order Look Like for Iowa?
By: Ingrid Johnson | 03.31.2020
As of today, Iowa is not under a shelter-in-place order. Governor Kim Reynolds has declined to issue a shelter-in-place order, but it may be coming. Cedar Rapids Mayor, Brad Hart, has urged Governor Reynolds to issue a statewide shelter-in-place order and has contemplated issuing a local order and Des Moines Mayor, Frank Cownie, has Read…